National Republican., 1887-04-23
Consular ReDOrta

Consul Joseph Is. Hughes, OF Birming-
ham, England, has made an exhaustive
and most interesting review OF the "Mediie.
val Art Work In Birmingham" In the
methods used In the working of metals
gold, silver, copper, brass, and bronze, and
in,wrought and cast iron. We have not the
space to describe the process OF the work,
and can only give place to the following
extract from this entertaining report:
Birmingham is known throughout the
world for its manufactures of metal work
OF all kinds, from the 6antiest productions
In jewelry and handsome services OF plate
to the most useful and yet prosaic articles
required for use In every walk OF life. In
all these branches where art can be intro
duced immense strides have been made
during the last quarter OF century, and
still greater progress may be looked for
since the foundation In this great center of
industry rather more than one year ago of
the Municipal Art Gallery and School of
Art: and the prevailing feeling among the
leading men of the town is that II
Birmingham is to hold its own In the strug.
gle for prominent position, such as sue
has always held In supplying the markets
OF the world, more attention must be given
In the future than has been the case In the
past 10 the introduction both Of form and
OF ornamentation into the designs for the
various productions TO be sent into the
market.
There is, however, one branch of the most
artistic work which has had Its home In
Birmingham longer than the quarter Of a
century TO which have just alluded II is
now nearly fifty years since the English art
world, or might perhaps more properly
say section of the English people, were
startled by the vehement denunciations,
both by speech and In writing, of young
architect In regard to the miserable style OF
architecture which then prevailed, and Of
the lameutable deficiency IN taste displayed
In all the arts appertaining to ecclesiastical,
civil, and domestic buildings. This apostle
OF art reformation was Augustus Welby
Pugin, TO whom may be originally a;trib.
uted the improvement that has since taken
place In every department Of the arts Just
alluded TO. But even genius like Pugin
might have failed TO produce so great
revolution II he had not met with practi-
cal assistant who could produce the articles
which he desired to see In the place Of the
inartistic monstrosities he condemned, and
he found such a man IN the late John
Hardman, OF this town, name which is
well known all the world over in connection
with mediGVal art work as that of elliott
with pens or ELLINGTON with silverwares.
Mr., Hardman, who was button maker and
medallist, had In these trades probably met
more artistic requirements than the ma lority
OF his brother manufacturers. At any rate
he threw himself with energy and enthusi-
asm into the practical development of
Pugin's theories, and not only founded
business which still ilourishes, but also
added new industry to those for which
birmingham was then celebrated, aud as
have above stated was the pioneer In that
Improvement in taste which Is now so
marked feature In English life, and which
is SO rapidly spreading In the United States.
In the beginning Mr.. Hardman confined